By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-03 23:39:56 | Updated at 2025-01-06 00:58:12
2 days ago
The children of Democrat and Republican Senators appeared to console Kamala Harris on her flop election loss as she swore their parents in Friday.
Harris was on Capitol Hill for the opening of the 119th Congress as she serves as president of the Senate and swears in all of the senators.
After botching the Pledge of Allegiance, Harris got down to initiating all the new and returning members into the upper chamber.
When Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who won Kyrsten Sinema's seat despite Harris losing his state, came to greet her, his son had a wistful, five-word message to the vice president.
'I'm sorry you didn't win,' Gallego's son Michael told her.
Harris, unflinchingly, tells the five-year-old that it's going to be alright before consoling him.
'Oh, you know what sweetheart... Don't you worry about it. There's still so much work to do. We're not defeated,' said the second-place finisher.
She then asks the boy if he knows what the word 'defeated' means and he answers affirmatively.
When Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat who won Kyrsten Sinema's seat despite Harris losing his state, came to greet her, his son had a wistful, five-word message to the vice president. 'I'm sorry you didn't win,' Gallego's son Michael told her
Gallego was much more cheerful as Harris swore him in to the Senate
'Are we defeated? No, we’re not. Right. That’s right. That’s right,' Harris says, before officially swearing his father in.
That wasn't the only interesting interaction Harris had with the offspring of a newly-elected senator, however.
Dave McCromick, a Republican who defeated Democrat incumbent Bob Casey for his seat in Pennsylvania, brought his daughters to the swearing in with Harris.
After the five girls pose for a photo op with Harris and without McCormick, one of them can be seen whispering to Harris: 'I voted for you.'
Harris unleashed her trademark cackle before responding: 'I could tell.'
The swearing in followed Harris' flub on the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony.
Harris could be heard asking senators to join her in the pledge as she turns to the American flag and begins.
But the vice president then messed up the first line, saying 'I pledge allegiance to the United - ' instead of 'I pledge allegiance to the flag.'
Harris, unflinchingly, tells the five-year-old that it's going to be alright before consoling him
Dave McCromick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, brought his daughters to the swearing in with Harris. After the five girls pose for a photo op with Harris and without McCormick, one of them can be seen whispering to Harris: 'I voted for you'
After jumbling the start, Harris was able to quickly pick up where she left off and successfully finish the pledge, but her fumble did not go unnoticed.
The vice president then proceeded to administer the oath of office for the newly elected and reelected senators where the awkward situation continued as she came face-to-face with the man who will replace her as vice president.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance was there to support newly elected Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno just weeks before he replaces Harris after President-elect Trump defeated her in the November presidential election.
The Ohio senator was all smiles as he stood just feet away from her as she administered the oath for Moreno and other senators.
Neither Harris or Vance appeared to engage each other, but both continued to smile and shake hands with the newly sworn-in senators before another group was ushered in to take the oath.
Vance was not the only Republican Harris came face-to-face with on Friday who spent the past few years criticizing her in Congress or on the campaign trail including some who refused to pronounce her first name correctly.
Despite the nasty politics of the recent election, the GOP senators and vice president put their differences aside for the occasion and warmly greeted each other with smiles and hand-shakes.
However, there was one person who did appear to make a dig on the floor of the Senate at Republicans.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance grins as Kamala Harris flubs the Pledge of Allegiance
Former Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland joined newly elected Senator Angela Alsobrooks for her swearing-in.
As the former lawmaker greeted the vice president, she could be heard emphasizing 'Kamala.'
'I just wanted to say your name properly in the Senate,' Mikulski clearly stating from the Senate floor.
In another cringe moment, Harris was left looking awkward when the husband of GOP Senator Deb Fischer snubbed shaking her hand.
The interaction came during the one-on-one ceremonial swearing-in of senators with their families on Friday.
Harris was greeting Democratic and Republican senators as they introduced spouses and children, but Fischer's husband stayed far away from the vice president when it was their turn.
Harris even joked 'I won't bite' as he stepped up to hold the bible for his wife.
After administering the oath, Harris and the Nebraska senator shook hands and smiled.
But when the vice president held out her to the senator's husband Bruce, he left her hanging, saying 'thank you' before putting his hands in his pockets.
